Improvement in latches



,.'plate attached to the casing H.

JAMES A .`oLAnKE, or NEWUYORK, N. Y.,

Letters Patent No. 99,845, lated .February 15, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN'LATCHHS.

The Schedule referred to in these Lettera Patent. and making part of the same.

To all whom tt may. concern:

Y Be a known that I, JAMES A. CLARKE, ofthe city, county, and State of N ew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Self-Lock for Basement Gate; and I do hereby declare that'the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art'to make` and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, formingv part of this specification, in whichlhe ligure is a detail sectional view illustrating my improved lock.

`My invention has for its object to furnish an improved lock for basement gates, which shall be soconstructed and arranged that it cannot be. opened from the outside of the gate, and will always lock itself when the gate is closed; and

It consists in the combination of the various parts, as hereinafter more fully described.

A represents the area beneath the steps of the front door, the entrance to which is closed by the gate B in the ordinary manner.

C isthe jamb or casing against which the door of the basement hall shuts.

D is a rod running horizontally through the casing C, and to the inner end of which is attached aknob, E, to enable the gate B tobe unfastened from within the basement hally when desired.

'lo the outer end of the rod D is pivoted the end of the lever F, the other end of which is forked, and between the said fork is pivoted the latch-block G, which projects through the casing H so as to catch upon, and fasten the gate B.

The latch-block G is held out in such a position, as tocatch upon, and fasten the gate by the spring I coiled around the outer part of the rod. D, the inner end of which springrests Vagainst a stop-pin attached tosaid rod, and its outer end rests agaiusta guide- Y lhe projecting end of `the rod D, the spring I, and the lever F are all closely covered by the casing H,

.any one outside ofthe gate.

`securely attached to the door-frame C, the basement wall, and the post or frame J Aagainst which the gate B shuts, so that the said parts cannot be reached by,

K is a knob, the stem of which passes in through a slot in the casing O in such a position that a person can reach and operate the said knob Kto nht'asten the gtte with one hand, while he opens the Igate with his other hand, but winch knob shall be in such a position that a person cannot reach and operate it from outside the gate.

L is a hasp or strap that shuts down upon the projecting en'd of the rod D, between the casing O and the knob E, so that the gate cannot be unfastened without first removing the said hasp L.

The projecting end of the latch-block G is covered by a cap, M, attached to the gate so that when the gate is sluit thesaid latch-block cannot be reached to unftsten the gate by any one, whether outside oi' in-v side thegate. The forward side ot' the projecting end of the latch-block Gis beveled oli', as shown in the figure, so that the gate B will fasten itself when swung shut.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the rod D, knobs E and K,

. one or both, spring I, lever F, latch-block G, casing H, and cap M, substantially as herein shownand described and for the purpose set forth.

`2. The combination of the hasp I l, knob E, Vrod D, spring I, lever F, latch-block G, casing H, and cap M, substantially as herein shown and described and for l. the purpose setf'ort-h.

The above specification ot'K my invention signed by me this 12th day of J anuary`1870.

JAMES A. CLARKE. Witnesses:

GEORGE W. Maman, J AMES T. GRAHAM. 

